HISD held its second annual School Choice Fair on Saturday, April 28, at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center. The event showcased up to 85 schools, including magnet, early college, multilingual programs, charters, early childhood centers, and dual language.
See scenes from HISD’s School Choice Fair below.
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The Houston Independent School District is the first district to be awarded an Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Climate Corps Fellow this summer to develop a customized energy plan for implementation district wide. Joseph Konkel, instructional assistant at the University of Houston’s College of Business, will provide consulting and expertise on the district’s energy needs during this summer.
“We are thrilled to be awarded this Climate Corps Fellow as it will provide HISD added support as we continue with our energy efficiency efforts across the district,” said HISD Energy Manager Gavin Dillingham. “Having a Climate Corps fellow will allow the district to prioritize facilities for large scale capital retrofits.”
The district will provide Konkel with senior-level support, a day-to-day supervisor, and access to energy use data. HISD has committed to reducing its energy use, acting on the fellow’s recommendations where feasible, and providing updates on implementation of energy efficient measures at six and eighteen-month intervals, following the fellowship’s completion.
At the program’s culmination, EDF aggregates the total projected investment dollars, energy savings in kilowatt hours and cost savings resulting from recommendations made by the fellows.
“I am excited that HISD has the opportunity to participate in such an innovative program. Houston is already considered the energy capital of the world,” said Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis. “This provides a great opportunity for HISD to be an example for other school districts around the country, as they are the first district to participate in the program.”
EDF’s Climate Corps is an innovative summer fellowship program that places MBA and MPA students from top graduate schools at companies, cities and universities to help with investing in energy efficiency. Companies like Boeing, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Citigroup have achieved more energy efficient operations as a result of having a Climate Corps Fellow. HISD is the first K-12 organization to participate in the program.
For more information about the District’s energy-efficiency initiatives, and the Green School Challenge, please visit www.hisd.org/greenschoolchallenge. To access Climate Corps Fellow case studies, and learn more about the program, visit www.edfclimatecorps.org.
What: North Highland Company, a global consultant oil and natural gas service organization, is donating 65 volunteers for a Milby Beautification Day in support of the IPAA Milby Academy of Petroleum Exploration & Production Technology. The volunteers have committed to 350 man hours to improve and refurbish the school grounds, courtyards, walkways and park benches.
Who: HISD Board Member Manuel Rodriguez, Milby High School Principal Roy de la Garza, IPAA Academy Coordinator Sarah Hewitt, North Highland Company Vice President Clark Varner, volunteers, students and teachers
When: Saturday, April 28, starting at 8:00a.m.
Where: Milby High School, 1601 Broadway
What: HISD’s Davis High School will be promoting the upcoming GenTX Day (Friday, May 4) during a campus news conference. All students, staff, teachers and community members in attendance will be showing their support for the students of Generation TX by wearing their favorite college T-shirt. The purpose of this event is to create a culture of college and career readiness that leads to the most successful generation ever.
Who: HISD Board Member Anna Eastman, Davis High School Principal Jaime Castaneda, and students from Ketelson Elementary, Marshall Middle School and Davis High School
When: Monday, April 30, 10:30a.m.
Where: Davis High School, 1101 Quitman
In an effort to provide increased learning opportunities and success for all students, the Houston Independent School District and the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Houston have committed to work together in good faith to explore ways in which the two organizations can bring a variety of resources, expertise and learning opportunities to HISD students. An official signing ceremony will be held on Thursday, April 26 at 9 a.m. at the Chinese Consulate, 3417 Montrose Blvd.
“Now, more than ever, children need to learn another language so that they can compete in the global marketplace and become more informed citizens in our diverse society. We are committed to expanding our global partnerships and the opportunities we are affording our students in HISD,” said HISD Superintendent Terry Grier. “This partnership with the Chinese Consulate of the People’s Republic of China in Houston is a key step towards achieving this goal and providing a quality education to every child in the district.”
By signing this agreement, HISD and The Consulate General express commitment to working together in a peaceful and productive manner with a focus on the collective goal of improving the quality of education for all students.
“We are pleased about our agreement with HISD. This is a very good program for our young people as they are our hope and future,” said Consul General Erwen Xu. “We should help them be fully prepared to meet the challenges of this new era, live healthy, work productively, and make contributions to cooperative partnership between China and U.S.”
Through this educational commitment, the Chinese Consulate General and the district agree to work together to explore ways in which the two organizations can bring a variety of resources, expertise and learning opportunities to HISD students.
These opportunities include Hanban-provided educational and cultural resources, financial support through grants and donations, and stronger collaborations between HISD students and teachers with students and teachers in China through exchanges and partnerships.
HISD’s Young Men’s College Preparatory Academy (1701 Bringhurst) will celebrate Earth Day by hosting a campus beautification project on Friday, April 27 at 10 a.m.
“We are excited about this event, and our school community has embraced being an eco-friendly campus, not just on Earth Day, but all year round,” said Principal Dameion Crook.
On Friday, nearly 200 students, parents, volunteers and school staff will plant 80 trees near the school’s soccer field and throughout the campus.
“I am excited to join Principal Crook and the students at the Young Men’s College Preparatory Academy in their efforts to revitalize our community in the Fifth Ward,” said Houston City Councilman Jerry Davis. In an effort to help spruce up the academy’s grounds, Davis’ office donated supplies to support the school’s Earth Day event. “I think it is imperative to work with our youth to instill a sense of pride in our community. Through their actions today, they are truly making a lasting impact that generations can appreciate for years to come.”
The school currently has a campus-wide recycling program and is taking part in HISD’s Green School Challenge, a competition designed to reduce schools’ energy and water consumption, and to increase the amount of single-stream waste recycling.
For more information about the Green School Challenge, and other green and energy-efficient initiatives, please visit www.hisd.org/greenschoolchallenge.
The Texas Education Agency today revealed the performance standards students must achieve to pass or excel on the STAAR tests.
Have questions? Visit HISD’s STAAR Q&A Blog.
“The Dogs of Character” rescue dogs recently paid a visit to Lockhart Elementary to teach 600 HISD students some important life lessons. The animals are used to “deliver messages of diversity, tolerance and self empowerment” said Dogs of Character Creative Director Joy Southard.
Click the photo below to see Lockhart students and their furry friends.
Reviewing officer and keynote speaker Marquis Alexander was on hand when HISD’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program honored its top six cadets from the Class of 2012 on April 21. Alexander, who was recently selected as the commander for the 2012-2013 Texas A&M University’s Corps of Cadets, and his fellow cadets from Texas A&M University served as the selection board for this year’s HISD JROTC competition.
The top six graduating seniors from the class of 2012 are:
Corps Commander (Top Graduate)
Cadet Colonel Ron-Joseph Lastimosa
Lamar High School
Cadet Colonel Ron-Joseph Lastimosa is ranked in the top three percent of his graduating class with a grade point average of 4.67. The International Baccalaureate diploma candidate is a member of the National Honor Society, French Club, Spanish Club, and Student Council. He is also active in the Boy Scouts of America.
Cadet Colonel Lastimosa placed first out of 25 competitors all four years in the Outstanding Cadet Qualification Board competitions. He has been awarded the Superior Cadet medal four times and he is a two-time recipient of both the George C. Marshall Award for Academic Achievement and Leadership and the Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award. He has been a member of the Junior Leadership and Academic Bowl team that competed at the national finals inWashingtonD.C.twice. At the 2011 competition, Cadet Lastimosa’s team placed fifth in the nation out of 1,710 schools.
Cadet Colonel Lastimosa serves as captain of the Lamar Marksmanship Team. He is also a member of the Lamar Organizational Color Guard and his church’s youth group. He has held a part time job at the Chocolate Bar since his sophomore year.
Cadet Lastimosa plans to major in investment management at theUniversityofTexasinAustin, from which he has already received a Business Honors Scholarship.
First Brigade Commander (#2 Graduate)
Cadet Colonel Veronica Zaragoza
Waltrip High School
Cadet Colonel Veronica Zaragoza has been an active Cadet in the JROTC program for four years. Cadet Zaragoza, with a GPA of 3.83, is ranked number 31 out of 375 students in her graduating class. Cadet Zaragoza has served as president of the National Honor Society and commander of the Waltrip JROTC Varsity Female Physical Training Team. She volunteers at the K2 Academy of Kids Sports, a facility for special needs children. Cadet Zaragoza plans to attendUniversityofTexasatAustinand major in social work.
Second Brigade Commander (#3 Graduate)
Cadet Colonel Nallely Prudencio
High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice
Cadet Colonel Nallely Prudencio is ranked fourth out of 123 graduating seniors with a grade point average of 4.00. She serves as president of the Business Professionals of America and the Student Council. She is also a member of the National Honor Society, the National Latino Peace Officers Association, the JROTC Academic Team, the Battalion Unarmed Drill Team, and the Houston Leadership for Tomorrow (a service organization). Cadet Colonel Prudencio has been awarded the Superior Cadet Medal for the last two years, and has placed in the Military Qualification Board competition two years straight. She plans to attendGeorgetownUniversity, where she will pursue a degree in computer security.
Third Brigade Commander (#4 Graduate)
Cadet Colonel Thesly Imboden
Reagan High School
Cadet Colonel Thesly Imboden scored one of the highest SAT scores ever earned by a student from her campus. She is currently ranked 19th of 456 seniors in her graduating class and she holds a GPA of 4.09. Cadet Colonel Imboden plans to attend theUniversityofTexasto pursue a degree in communications. She serves as chief editor of the school newspaper, and she is a member of the National Honor Society, the Reagan High School Leadership Council. She is also active in the Peer Assistance and Leadership (PALS) program, which performs community service projects.
Fourth Brigade Commander (#5 Graduate)
Cadet Colonel Cristian Buitrago
Bellaire High School
Cadet Colonel Cristian Buitrago has a grade point average of 4.17. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Operation Military Children, and the Army Reserve Team Panel. He also serves as captain of the JROTC Physical Fitness Team, a counselor for Speak Out for Military Kids, and a representative of the US Army 75th Reserve Division’s Family Readiness Group at Ellington Field. After graduation, Cadet Colonel Buitrago will attend theUnited StatesMilitaryAcademyatWest Point.
Fifth Brigade Commander (#6 Graduate)
Cadet Colonel Merline Gonzalez
Scarborough High School
Cadet Colonel Merline Gonzalez has a GPA of 4.1 and is her class valedictorian. She serves as president of the National Honor Society, and she is a member of the Environmental Club, the Student Council, the varsity soccer team, the Lady Spartans Unarmed drill team, and the Spartans Physical Fitness Team. She is also active as a peer tutor and a ninth grade mentor. Cadet Colonel Gonzalez has been awarded the Superior Cadet medal three times. Following graduation, she plans to attend theUniversityofHouston, where she will major in communications.
Houston ISD boasts the eight-county region’s top three elementary, middle, and high schools, according to the 2012 Texas Public School Rankings announced Monday by Children at Risk. The rankings include schools from 58 school districts, plus charter schools.
The results mark HISD’s strongest showing since the non-profit child advocacy and research organization began issuing the rankings in 2006. The announcement was made during a ceremony at HISD’s High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, which is among the region’s top 15 high schools.
The news comes on the heels of this month’s announcement that HISD is among four national finalists for the county’s most prestigious public education award – The Broad Prize for Urban Education. Selected from a field of 75 eligible school districts across America, HISD was chosen as a Broad Prize finalist because of Houston students’ strong academic performance since 2008 and the district’s shrinking achievement gap.
“HISD has a much-deserved reputation for offering some of the best schools in America,” Superintendent Terry Grier said. “These recent accolades show that our work to replicate this excellence in more schools serving neighborhoods throughout Houston is working. HISD is proving that great teachers working in schools led by great principals are more than capable of helping students overcome obstacles and eliminate excuses for failure.”
Half of the region’s top 10 elementary, middle and high schools for 2012 are HISD campuses. For the third year in a row, HISD’s DeBakey High School for Health Professions earned the No. 1 spot. T.H. Rogers took the No. 1 spot on the middle school list for the second straight year, and also earned the No. 1 spot on the elementary school list after coming in fourth in 2011.
HISD’s top 10 schools for 2012
Elementary Schools
T.H. Rogers (No. 1)
Lyons (No. 2)
River Oaks (No. 3)
West University (No. 5)
Condit (No. 6)
Burrus (No. 10)
Middle Schools
T.H. Rogers (No. 1)
Project Chrysalis (No. 2)
Energized for Excellence (No. 3)
Lanier (No. 10)
High Schools
DeBakey (No. 1)
Carnegie Vanguard (No. 2)
Eastwood Academy (No. 3)
East Early College (No. 8)
High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (No. 10)
Children at Risk also singled out several other HISD schools for special recognition.
Lee High School was named the Most Improved School in the region. Lee is one of four high schools taking part in HISD’s ambitious Apollo 20 program that uses research-based strategies aimed at turning around schools with a long history of poor performance. After one year, students in HISD’s Apollo 20 schools produced academic gains on par with the nation’s most prestigious charter schools.
DeBakey High School was named the region’s top high school for math and science.
Lyons Elementary School and Pilgrim Middle School were named Gold Ribbon schools.
The Children at Risk rankings consider multiple factors designed to tell whether schools are not just meeting minimum passing standards, including: percentage of students scoring at the “commended” level on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, SAT scores, graduation rates, and the percentage of students earning college credit through AP, IB or dual credit courses. Student poverty rates also factor into the rankings. The rankings also consider the annual academic growth made by students in math and reading.